Democrat judge strikes RFK from New York ballot over 'false' address

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cannot be on New York’s presidential election ballot because he used a "false" address for nominating petitions, a judge has ruled.

Judge Christina Ryba says Kennedy falsely gave a New York address as his place of residence and consequently his request to be included on the ballot had to be rejected. Kennedy, in turn, has rejected the judge’s decision and says he will appeal.



But the ruling might have further ramifications for Kennedy if other states decide to bar him from the ballot because he gave the same address.

Kennedy says the ruling is clearly partisan in nature, even as the judge who made it is a Democrat, BBC News reported. “They aren’t confident they can win at the ballot box, so they are trying to stop voters from having a choice," he said in a statement. "We will appeal, and we will win.”

Kennedy has maintained that he has always considered New York his home state and that he intends to return there. He is currently a resident of California, where he lives with his wife, actress Cheryl Hines.

Kennedy has stated in court that he rents a bedroom in New York, about 40 miles from Manhattan, for which he pays $500 a month in rent. Kennedy also practices law in New York and pays state taxes.

But Judge Ryba ruled that "the overwhelming credible evidence introduced at trial" suggested that Mr. Kennedy only held a New York address for "political standing.”

“Given the size and appearance of the spare bedroom as shown in the photographs admitted into evidence, the Court finds Kennedy’s testimony that he may return to that bedroom to reside with his wife, family members, multiple pets, and all of his personal belongings to be highly improbable, if not preposterous,” the judge wrote.

Washington Democrats are also trying to have Kennedy removed from their state’s presidential ballot. Kennedy finally received Secret Service protection after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. The Biden-Harris administration denied Kennedy’s request for the service on three occasions and only agreed after Trump demanded it.